Chewy, for whatever reason Go-Mer is terrible at following the logical progression of arguments. So, unless you can be patient and force him to stick to the actual arguments, I wouldn’t suggest arguing with him.

Originally posted by: Go-Mer-Tonic

Tiptup, in matters of taste, I don't think anyone's crazy.

If that is truly the case then you’d have to be stupid. I don’t think you realize what you’re saying there. For instance: if someone prefers darkness, soundlessness, and bodiless nothingness, then how would that “taste” not be crazy by definition?

Originally posted by: Go-Mer-Tonic

To me artistic preference is an opinion, not right or wrong.

Then you’d be wrong.

If you have an opinion, then it must be the result of real, objective circumstances on some level. All truth meets somewhere, Go-Mer, or else there would be no scientific coherence between your reality and mine. If you have a unique point of view (which you obviously do), then that point of view can be described and distinguished from my point of view to at least some degree, or else it would be impossible to argue that it is unique. Then, if a point of view is analyzed in that way, I can guarantee you that we will find things that are “right” or “wrong” about it.

Let’s look at an example: A guy loves puppies. He loves everything about them. He thinks they are adorable and wants be around puppies as long as he lives. Then he sees a movie that tears apart endless acres of real, living puppies limb from limb. Now, this film has a hateful attitude towards puppies, horribly killed endless numbers of real puppies, and expresses a point of view that probably wouldn’t care if puppies were erased from existence. Yet, let’s say that our puppy lover enjoyed this movie because, from his perspective, he loved how the movie had lots of puppies in it (and boy does he love puppies!). I’m sorry but there’s definitely something very wrong here. The very reason he likes the movie contradicts what the movie is about on the whole!

Don’t even try to give me the bullshit that artistic expression can’t be right or wrong. It can be all the time. Even I can admit that my most beloved forms of entertainment aren’t perfect. Everything made by people has mistakes and wrongs in it. To deny that fact is to deny who we are. Yet, on the other hand, some forms of entertainment are better than others and there’s nothing wrong with seeking out the best art we can find in an objective fashion.

Now, of course choice is always involved in this process, and we can always choose to be fond of things that do not deserve fondness. I don’t want to pretend that our points of view are enslaved by our perspective of our environment. Sentimental attachment is important in this regard, and if someone wants to argue for their preferences on this basis, despite admitting glaring faults or inferiority, then I can be totally fine with that. But, let’s not be idiotic enough to fool ourselves into thinking that there is no objective truth relating to beauty.

If you love the prequel trilogy, Go-Mer, then tell me your point of view and argue for it. If I then point out my problems with your point of view (problems that prevent me from seeing things the same way you do), don’t pretend like my problems don’t exist and simply be ignored! Try to argue why you don’t believe they are problems! If you can’t argue them away, then admit that they could be problems, but that you can ignore them. I would accept that from you.

If the puppy lover from my example is honest and fair enough to admit that his movie should have problems being liked from his perspective, then I’d be happy with that. Then the film’s negative attitude and treatment towards puppies is simply something he can ignore, and he can love how it shows him lots of puppies despite that clear problem. In that case he’d no longer be “wrong” because we both agree about the objective state of things. His puppy loving perspective ignores the puppy hating aspects of the movie and therefore works.